Automotive radio apparatus



June 18, 1940.

H. J.-TYZZER AUTOMOTIVE RADIO APPARATUS Original Filed April 7, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet .1

INVENTOR.

m a m E R 2 0 Z. W m M June 18, 1940.

H. J. TYZZER AUTOMOTIVE RADIO APPARATUS Original Filed Aprilv7, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

cw Y K m W E Z O w a? A V n U M W W Patented June 18, 1940 Howard J.Tyazer, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Crosley Corporation,Cincinnati, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Original application April '7, .1938, Serial No.

Divided and this application August 9, 1939, Serial No. 289,287

' 2 Claims. (cum-1m This application is a division of my co-pendinapplication, Serial No. 200,730, filed April '7, 1938, and entitledAutomotive radio apparatus.

My invention relates to radio apparatus for use 5 inautomobiles or othertypes of vehicles, which apparatus is equipped with station selectingmechanism. In the operation of an automobile radio set, for example, ifthe tuning in of various stations requires both manipulation and visualinspection on the part of the operator, his attention is diverted fromhis driving with a consequent serious safety hazard. An object of myinvention, therefore, is the provision of a radio installation in amotor vehicle or the like which may be operated by the driver withoutthe necessity of any visual inspection at all.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of automaticapparatus, the cost of which is not appreciably greater, if greater atall,

than the cost of automotive radio equipment not making any provision forsecuring the objects of my invention. In other words, it is one of myobjects to secure'ease, convenience, and safety of operation asaforesaid, without adding to the cost of the radio set. I am aware thatradio sets with remote control devices have been constructed inaccordance with several plans; but it is not very feasible, excepting atconsiderable added cost and unusual power requirements, to equipautomobile radios with such devices. Moreover there is a distinctinstallation problem which adds .to the ultimate cost to the purchaser.Again, such systents are likelyto get out of orderand to losetemporarily, at least, any value they might otherwise have in a radioset for vehicles.

Thus, it is further an object of my invention to provide a means forcontrolling an automobile radio set which means is simple, accurate,effective, and not liable to get out of order under any normalconditions of the operation of the vehicle.

Also, it is my object to produce an automotive radio set equipped withcontrol means vas aforesaid, but which is installed as other automotiveradio sets are installed or even with less labor,

and in any even without any additional cost, in-

convenience, labor or expenditure of time.

These and other objects of my invention which will be set forthhereinafter, or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon readingthese speci- 5o flcations, I accomplish by that certain construction andarrangement of parts of which} shall now describe an exemplaryembodiment. Reference is made to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automotive radio set embodying myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one methc of installing the radio set ofFig. 1 in an automobile.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another method of installation.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the device of 5 Fig. 1 taken alongthe lines 44. The view is partial and shows the essential features ofthe control apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the device of Fig. l

with portions broken away so as to show the con- 10} trol apparatus inelevation.

in any one of a number of preselected stations for go which theapparatus has been set. The usual volume control knob, also operating aswitch for turning the radio set ofi and on, is likewise provided. Thevolume control switch may be operated by the driver without any visualinspection 25 as will be clear; and so long as the driver is aware ofthe order of the push buttons, he can likewise select and actuate-anyone of them without withdrawing his-attenti'on from driving.

' The several push buttons and attendant por- 30 tions, constitute aselective mechanism which is connected directly or through a suitabledrive to the condenser gang or other tuning elements of the radio set.In this connection, reference may be made to my co-pending applicatiopSerial No. 35 192,258 filed February 24, 1938, and entitled a Pushbutton tuning device, in which. I have shown a similar selectivemechanism. Also reference may be made to my copending application,

Serial No. 226,520 filed August 24, 1938, and en- 40 q titled a Pushbutton tuning device, in which I have described asimplified selectivemechanism in which the rotor blades of the condenser or condensers, aredirectly connected to the memher which is positioned by the selectivedevices. 45

It will be within the skill of the worker in the art, to employ thislatter typeof mechanism if he I so desires. In this specification,I-shall describe but one type of selective mechanism, it beingunderstood that other types may be employed within the spiriti and scopeof my invention. I am not claiming herein selective mechanism per se;but I am claiming such mechanism generally as an element in acombination of other partseoing to make up a structure for automotiveinstallation. 5

In my device, the plungers and associated selective mechanism aremechanically connected to the condenser gang and must be locatedadjacent the condenser gang. I, therefore, provide substantially as aunit, the combination of condenser gang, selective mechanism, the dialand the various controls. While this may be built into a complete casingas a separate unit which may be located where desired in the automotivevehicle, I prefer to build theunit, in the form of an extension upon theusual cabinet in which the radio set is housed, for purposes hereinafterto be explained.

Where the combination of condenser, selective mechanism, and indicatingand controlling means is built into an extension upon the radio cabinetor casing, it is possible to install the radio set in the vehicle insubstantially the ordinary way and still have the selective andcontrolling mechanism available to the operator of the vehicle. Thus thecasing may be installed behind'the instrument panel with the extensionprojecting beneath the lower edge thereof in position of convenientaccess to the operator, or it is possible to mount the casing behind theinstrument panel with the casing extension projecting through anappropriately shaped aperture in the instrument panel, thereby securinga somewhat more finished appearance.

I shall now proceed to a specific description of an exemplary embodimentof my device. Reference to Fig. 1 will show a casing I, of usual typefor an automotive radio set. This casing contains the chassis andappurtenances of the radio set, which elements do not requiredescription. Also, the casing as manufactured, contains the loud speakerwhich emits sound through louvres 2. If desired, of course, the loudspeaker may be located elsewhere in the vehicle. Likewise the power packmay be in the casing or elsewhere as may be found most convenient.

The front of the casing is provided with an extension 3, which may havethe ornamental shape shown or any other shape deemed equally suitable. Aconvenient way of making this ex-- for one side of the casing I, towhich end the extension is provided with a vertically extending portion5. Flanges 6, 1, and 8, are formed upon the extension member to go overthe edges of the casing; and the extension may be fastened to the casingby means of screws or bolts 9. Attached to the top of the extensionproper, is a relatively heavy bar I0, which may with advantage, bespot-welded to the extension. This bar is for installation purposes. Itmay project beyond the side edges of the extension and be provided withperforations II.

The front portions of the extension is provided with a dial arrangementindicated generally at I2, with a manual turning knob I3, with acombined switch and volume control knob I4, and with a plurality of pushbuttons I5. These push buttons are provided with markers as shown; andthe ar rangement of parts within the extension 3 is such that when theradio set is turned on by means of the knob I4, the operation of pushingin anyselected one of the buttons I5, will turn the radio set to apreselected station. A specific embodiment of mechanism whereby this maybe accomplished will be set forth later in these specifications.

Particular methods of installation are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig.2, I have illustrated a portion of an automobile having an instrumentpanel I6, with the speedometer I1, and other instruments thereon. Herethe apparatus of Fig. 1 has been installed by locating the casing I,essentially behind the instrument panel but with the extension 3 therebelow, and projecting forwardly. In this instance, the casing I has beenmounted, in part at least, by fastening the bar ID to the flange at thelower edge of the instrument panel IS. The casing I, may have additionalsupport as desired, by attaching it to the dash, for example. In Fig. 2,the casing I, with its extension 3, is shown located to the left of thesteering post I8 in a position of easy access for the driver. It will beunderstood, of course, that my device may be similarly mounted insubstantially any position along the length of the instrument panel.

In Fig. 3 the instrument panel I6 is shown as having a perforation I9,through which the extension 3 projects. The casing I is, in thisinstance, located wholly behind the instrument panel.

Figs. 2 and 3 are illustrative of exemplary mountings for my device; butother mountings may likewise be employed. It will be observed, however,that the device is of such character that it may be installed in anautomotive vehicle as a unit without requiring the separate installationof control elements and the connection of these elements to a radio setlocated elsewhere. It will also be observed that my device wheninstalled has a pleasing and decorative effect in consonance with thefittings of the vehicle. The extension 3 is finished with a suitablydecorative surfacing, and may be made to match the finish of theinstrument panel.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show the mechanism within the extension 3. A condensergang is broadly indicated at 20 having stator and rotor blades. Thecondenser gang can be separately mounted in the extension if desired,and this will be done where the extension casing and associated partsare constructed as a separate unit for mounting in the vehicle in adifferent position from the remainder of the radio set; but in the formof a device illustrated in Fig. 1, it is convenient to mount thecondenser gang upon an extension of the chassis of the radio setindicated at 2I. Beneath the condenser gang, I mount a box like frame22. Down-turned ears 23 on the ends of this structure are provided withhearing means for a rocking plate 24. This plate bears an arm 25 havinggear teeth 26 meshing with the teeth of a gear 21 fixed on the shaft ofthe gang condenser 20. It will, thus, be clear that if the plate 24 isrocked, it will control the position of the rotor assembly of thecondenser gang.

A manual control shaft 28 is journaled in ears 29 on the chassis. Therocking plate 24 bears a pulley 30. A cable 3| passes about this pulleyand is wound about the shaft 28 as shown. The shaft 28 carries thetuning knob I3. If this knob is rotated, the shaft 28, through the cable3|, rocks the plate 24. This in turn moves the condenser gang asaforesaid. The so-called automatic tuning means for the radio set alsoadjusts the,condenser by moving the plate 24. To this end, the bearingsof the shaft 28 are made to have very little frictional resistance so asnot to interfere with this operation. I

In downwardly extending ears 32 on the member 22, I slidably mount anumber of plungers. These plungers are illustrated in Fig. 6. Eachcomprises a body portion 33, a rearwardly extending reduced portion 34,and a forwardly ex-' tending reduced portion 35. The portion 34 passesthrough perforations 24a in the rocking plate 24, so as not to interferewith the movements of the plate. -Where the reduced end portion 34 ofeach plunger extends through the rearward car 32, a suitable fasteningmeans 36 may be provided to limit movement of the plungers in theforward direction. A coil spring 31 extending between the body 33 ofeach plunger and the forward ear 32 is employed to keep the severalplungers normally in the forward position.

To each of the plungers, I arm 38 having contacting portions 39 to be.brought against the plate 24 for positioning it. In the operation ofsetting the apparatus for any given station, the radio set is firsttuned to that station by means of the hand tuning knob |3. Then aplunger which has been selected for that station is depressed. Withthearm 38 loose on that plunger, it will be clear that the arm 38 will begiven a position appropriate to the selected station by the plate 24. Ifnow the arm 38 is fixed in that position on the plunger, it will beclear that thereafter, when the plunger is depressed, the arm 38 willgive to the plate 24 its former position and will thereby tune in thepreviously selected station.

As set forth in my co-pending applications referred to, there areseveral ways in which the arm 38 may be fixed upon the plunger. In theparticular construction illustrated, I have struck up ears 40 from thebody 33 of the plunger and have threaded into these ears a set-screw 4|A locking plate 42 of angular form is perforated so as to slip over therearward ear 40. The end of the set-screw 4| bears against an angularlybent portion of the locking plate 42 as shown and binds the lockingplate against a forwardly extending semicircular portion 38a of thepositioning arm 38.

The perforations member 22 are enlarged date the ears 40. In the shown,the push buttons gaged upon plungers. The push buttons are of suflicientwidth to cover the set-screws 4|. and, side by side, substantially fillup the entire space within a perforation in the extension 3.

In setting the device for any given station, the push button ii for theselected station, is pulled off the extension 35, and the apropriateadjustments made. After this, the push button is replaced. The pushbuttons may be provided with removable markers so that they may bemarked with the call tion.

I have tion in the several figures.

pivot an actuating in the upward ear 32 of the as at 43 toaccommoparticular embodiment l5 are frictionally enillustrated one formof dial construc- Here a pulley 44 is a size to fill up the tension, andbeing removable to permit access the forward extensions 35 of the;

letters of the selected sta-' attached to the end of the condenser gangshaft. An endless cable 41 passes over this pulley, over supplementarypulleys 48 and 49 at the right hand end of the structure, and returnsover a pulley 50 at the left hand end of the structure. A suitable scalemeans 5| is supported in the position shown, and a pointer 52v which isattached to the cable 41 moves over this scale. The extension 3 will beperforated as at 53 to disclose the scale and pointer; and theperforation may be covered with a glass 54 or other suitable translucentsubstance. If desired, the condenser 20, the dial and the selectiveapparatus substantially in the relationship described may be placed in aseparate casing, finished on all sides and located wherever desired inthe motor vehicle. structed and located away from proper, the as will beunderstood by the skilled worker in the art, and the volume control knobwill likewise be wired to the set. Great complexity of wiring is avoidedbecause the selective mean acts mechanically and substantially directlyupon the condenser.

Modifications may be made in my invention without departing from thespirit of it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automobile radio set, a casing, an extension thereof, a radioset in said casing, a condenser gang located at least partially withinsaid extension, mounting means below said condenser gang in saidextension, a plate pivoted on said a connection between said plate and'said condenser gang, a series of plungers slidably mounted in saidextending transversely to said plate, each of said plungers bearingpositioning means for said plate, adjusting means for said positioningmeans and operating knobs on said plungers, said operating knobsextending forwardlythrough a perforation in said extension, saidoperating knobs being of said perforation in said exto said adjustingmeans.

2. In an automotive radio apparatus, a housing, a condenser gang gateddial for said condenser gang, a perforation in the upper part of oneside of said housing for condenser will be wired to the set,"

in said housing, an elon disclosing said dial, said housing bearingtherebelow on said side a pair of knobs for controlling a radio setand'belowsaid knobs having an elongated perforation, a series ofplungers extending through said last mentioned perforation in side byside relationship, said plungers being so shaped as substantially tofill up said perforation when in side by side relationship, saidplungers having means for operating said condenser gang so as to tune itto preselected stations, said plungers being substantially rectangularin cross section.

HOWARD J. TYZZER.

